John McGinn has shared the sweet reason behind his iconic goggles goal celebration. The Aston Villa midfielder performed the gesture after scoring against Haiti during Scotland's World Cup match on June 15, securing their first tournament win since 1990.
Personal Inspiration
The 31-year-old explained that the celebration is for his nephew, Jack, who needs to wear goggles while playing football due to poor eyesight. McGinn wanted to make Jack feel included and raise awareness for other children with similar needs.
Speaking to ITV Sport, Scotland's vice-captain said: "Ironically it was for the last major tournament when I didn't score. It was at the time where Jack was having serious discussions about his eyesight."
Eyesight Struggles
McGinn described the severity of Jack's condition: "It's probably as strong a lens as you can get for a child. When he takes his glasses off, you can see how much he struggles." He added that the celebration has helped Jack feel more comfortable playing football and has raised awareness across Scotland and the world.
The midfielder expressed regret over teasing other children for wearing glasses when he was younger, admitting he now understands the challenges they face.
Global Impact
McGinn noted that parents have reached out to thank him for inspiring their children. "A lot of parents have come in contact with me and said 'you've inspired my son to keep his goggles on' or 'you've inspired my kids to have their eyes tested.' If my celebration brings awareness to that, then that's the main thing."
After Scotland's win, McGinn told the BBC he was "over the moon" with the result, despite the team not playing their best. He added: "We've been through a lot of hurt as a country. A generation of supporters haven't seen this, but the pride on my face this morning seeing all the kids going to the parks in a Scotland kit. Painting their faces. Hopefully when they get up tomorrow they'll be absolutely beaming with pride because I am."
Scotland still has two more group stage matches: against Morocco on June 19 and Brazil on June 24.
